The families and friends of the five Britons being held hostage in Iraq yesterday made a direct appeal to their Shia kidnappers to free them. The message was released through the Foreign Office following a broadcast threat by the militiamen to kill a captive if British troops do not leave the country by the end of next week.

Addressing the men, the families said: "We love you and miss you very much. We want you to know that in the six months since you were taken, we have not once forgotten you ... We want you to know that we continue to do everything we can, through all the channels available to us, to work towards your safe release."

Turning to the Shia militia believed responsible for their abduction, the statement said: "[We] appeal to those who are holding our loved ones to end the pain we are all suffering and send the men back home to us safely."

The threat to kill one of the men was aired on the Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV station this week. The recording showed a hostage flanked by two masked gunmen pointing their weapons at him. A sign read "The Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq".

At the request of the Foreign Office none of the Britons have been named. They were seized by about 40 gunmen wearing police uniforms at the Iraqi finance ministry in Baghdad on May 29. Four of the men were working for the Canadian firm GardaWorld as security guards. The fifth, whom the others were guarding, is believed to be a computer consultant.